It’s spread by the avian parasite trichomonosis.
It causes an infection in the throats of birds, making them unable to swallow.
Dave Currie, president of the Nova Scotia Bird Society, said the disease is severe and is affecting all species of birds.
“It can be transmitted. It’s a parasite, this parasite lives in wet conditions. It could just be just the dew in your grass and the wet seeds on the ground and if birds are walking on that or regurgitating some of the saliva that they are sick with, that parasite can be transmitted to any species of bird that comes to that spot.
He says there’s no risk to humans or to a pet dog or cat. However Currie says a pet bird could be at risk if precautions are not taken.
“If you’re not careful if you have a pet canary or budgie or some other type of pet bird, it’s possible that your hands could transmit that back into the the cage.”
Currie says the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative has a web site and any sick birds can be reported to them.
Currie says people need to remove their bird feeders and baths, clean them with a diluted bleach solution and put them away for the summer. .
He says there’s no risk to humans.
Here’s a link to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative: